Obermeyer’s New Freeskiing Collection Speaks to a Different Generation

All images: Andrew Muse

Founded in 1947, Obermeyer is the oldest family-owned ski industry brand in North America—a status that comes with both benefits and challenges. For longer than most of us have been alive, the company has been producing quality ski gear for die-hardskiers, and weathering decades of market volatility along the way. In recent years, however, the brand has fallen into the heritage category in many consumers' eyes and has struggled to gain traction with younger demographics. The folks behind Obermeyer knew it was time to jumpstart the conversation with the freeskiing market, so the new Off Gridfreeride collection was born.

“We’re working towards a true shift for Fall 2027,” says Chief Growth Officer Sam Minassian. “It’s an evolution, not a reinvention. We’re modernizing our visual identity, storytelling and messaging while staying anchored tothe founding principles Klaus Obermeyer Sr. built the brand on—the joy of skiing, love of nature and the belief that the best things in life should be shared.”

When Klaus Obermeyer introduced the first ski parka, almost 80 years ago, the upstart company quickly gained traction in his newfound home of Aspen, Colorado, and beyond. This success sparked decades of successful product launches, from the stretchpants and mirrored sunglasses of the 60s and 70s, to the perfectly neon onesies of the 80s and 90s. These iconic pieces are what many people still associate with the Obermeyer brand and while the company will continue to produce apparel for skiers who appreciate the heritage style, the brand is focusing on evolution through its newest line.

Tim Durtschi recently joined the Obermeyer team and is loving the Steibis 3L bib

Off Grid is an athlete-driven, freeride collection built for everything from long, stormy days in the backcountry to sunny, cruiser laps at the resort. With a relaxed silhouette and modern color palette, the collection includes a complete lineup of technical outerwear and layering pieces that break away from the classic Obermeyer aesthetic to attract a new generation of customers.

To support the new direction, Obermeyer has been bolstering its roster of athletes with skiers that embody the Off Grid mentality. Colter Hinchliffe, a renowned freeride skier, has been with the brand for three years now and was a key figure in the development of this line. “It's been fun to continually improve the gear from year to year,” says Hinchliffe. “Adding functionality and style for gear that’s meant for what I, and skiers like me, love to do.”

While traveling across the globe to ski and film, Hinchliffe has been continually testing Off Grid prototypes and sending detailed notes to Obermeyer’s designers. This real-world feedback, as well as that from other athletes on the Obermeyer team, has helped hone in a collection that’s built to withstand the abuse that skiers thrust upon their gear, and also dial in a feature set that aligns with contemporary freeskiers’ needs.

"This next iteration of the product comes with a few features I’ve been working on...sewing them on myself to make prototypes,” says Hinchliffe. Some of his contributions include a split, magnetic thigh pocket and an ice scraper pocket that’s convenientlyl ocated on the shin of the Steibis bib—features that a product designer might not come up with without direct input from front line athletes. “It is so cool tosee these features coming out of the factory clean and perfect."

Truffle is one of two colorways in the women's Steibis 3L jacket

Going into the second year, Off Grid includes an expanded selection of outerwear and mid-layers to supply a complete apparel system for demanding skiers. Hinchliffe’s go-to pieces are the 2L insulated Tagert jacket—with color blocking that adds a vest-like aesthetic—and Lindley insulator—a stretchy, zippered midlayer with 60 grams of insulation. But what he‘s most excited about might be the Lindley Insulator short. “That’s right. Synth down shorts!” he exclaims. “They’re designed in conjunction with the bibs and they zip off so you can remove them through the vent as the day warms up, or mid-hike.”

Hinchliffe’s excitement about the development process is echoed by other team members such as newly signed Tim Durtschi and freeskier Jess Cohen. “The designers sit down with us girls and they’re like okay, what can we do differently to better cater to female athletes with female bodies,” says Jess. “They take what we say and actually implement our feedback."

This collaborative approach marks a pivotal shift for the brand which is still owned by the Obermeyer family. “The addition of new leadership brings a fresh perspective, while maintaining deep respect for Obermeyer’s heritage,” adds Minassian. “We’ve assembled a team with experience from top outdoor brands including Mammut, The North Face, Marmot and Patagonia, giving us the operational strength and industry insight to guide the brand’s next chapter. Under the guidance of Garrett Waldron as GM/COO and the talented executive team, we’re focused on sharpening our product strategy, strengthening our operational foundation and positioning Obermeyer for long-term growth.